by Jamilia Fair
I must have been louder than I intended because I now have two sets of eyes on me. "Who's this?" Jess looks me up and down with what I gather is a forced smile.
I may not be jealous, but it looks like someone else is.
Jeremiah smiles at me. "Tabitha, this is Jessica Brandon, my best friend." He takes her hand and tugs her across the office to where I stood beside the couch. "Jessica, this is Tabitha Davenport… my girlfriend."
At the mention of girlfriend, her right eye twitches. "Girlfriend?"
He nods. "Yes, girlfriend."
I smile and stick my hand out towards her. "It's nice to finally meet you, Jessica." She hesitantly takes my hand. "Jeremiah has told me a lot about you."
She smiles but shows no teeth. "I'm sure he did," she says before tilting her head to the side slightly. "I'm sorry, but Jeremiah never mentioned you to me. I never even knew he was dating anyone."
I can see a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. "Well, we haven't really been dating that long. We kind of just made things official," I reply.
"Oh? How long ago was that?" she questions curtly, dropping her hand from mine.
I turn to look at Jeremiah. "Maybe, seven minutes ago."
He chuckles, then nods. "Yes, close enough."
I turn my attention back to Jessica and there's a smirk on her lips. "Wow. Seven minutes ago?"
I smile. "Yeah, Jeremiah here is very convincing."
He wraps his arm around my middle and pulls me into him, then kisses my hair. "And you're hard, very hard to stay away from."
I tilt my head back and kiss his jawline. "Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment."
He shakes his head. "Of course."
Suddenly, my phone goes off. "You should get that," Jessica says rather quickly.
I look at her and she's glaring at the arm Jeremiah has wrapped around my middle. I mentally roll my eyes at her childish behavior before reaching into my dress pocket to retrieve my phone. "Tabitha Davenport speaking. How may I help you?"
"Damn girl. Why do you have to answer the phone sounding like a damn automatic answering system?" Barbara laughs on the other end.
I shrug. "Force of habit, I guess. Did you need something?"
"Uh, yeah, you. We need you home ASAP."
"Who's we?"
"Hey, Tabby!" Brooke's voice sounds on the other end.
I chuckle at her enthusiasm. "Hey, Brooke. How's the honeymoon?"
"Sweetie, we got back from Italy about a week ago," she says and I can hear the smile in her voice. "But it was amazing."
"I bet it was. Now, why does Barb want me home right now?" I ask, snaking my free arm around Jeremiah’s middle, earning a glare from Jessica.
Jeremiah tightens his hold around my middle and I squeal, loudly, when I feel him pinch my ass. "What the hell was that?" Barb questions.
"Nothing. Why do you want me home?" I ask again, trying to free myself from Jeremiah’s grasp, but failing miserably.
"The three of us haven't had a girls’ day, or night, in a long time. I miss my girls," Brooke says.
I smile at the phone like she can see me. "I miss you, girls, too." I turn my head to look up at Jeremiah, who is staring down at me with a curious look. "Look, I have to finish up here, but as soon as I'm off, I will meet you both at my place, okay?"
"Sounds like a plan," Barb says.
"Great. I will see you ladies at three."
"Three it is," Brooke says before I end the call.
"What about dinner?" Jeremiah questions with a frown.
I turn around in his arms and cup his face. "I know you wanted me to meet your friends, but I haven't seen my girls in a long time and I miss them. I'd really like to spend some time with them tonight." I kiss his lips, then snake my arms around his neck. "Can we reschedule for another time? I promise to go wherever you want to go."
He growls, then presses his hand to the middle of my back and presses me closer to him. "Fine, but you owe me. Big time."
I smile. "Thank you." I push on my toes and kiss his lips. "I will see you tomorrow."
"You bet your ass you will."
I draw back, step out of his hold and pick up my coat and bag from the couch before turning to Jessica. She's glaring at me, slightly, and her hands are fists at her side, but I don't really pay her any mind. I just smile at her. "It was really nice meeting you, Jessica. And I'm glad you're back in town." I move to step around her. "You can distract him from wanting to always spoil me."
"I'll always want to spoil you," he throws at me.
I look at him over my shoulder as I open the door to his office. "And I will continue to say no. Don't work too hard."
"Oh, he won't. I'll make sure of that," Jessica says with a glint in her eyes and a smirk on her lips.
I won't lie and say that I didn't want to cross his office and slap that smirk right off her face. It's not because I'm jealous, but because she's deliberately trying to piss me off. If it's one thing I can't stand, it's a woman who tries to get under the skin of another woman just to feel good about herself.
"Good. He kept himself, and me, real busy last night. In all honesty, I'm surprised he was even able to get up this morning after the long night we had." The corners of my lips tilt up at the frown that shapes her lips. Boom! "Bye."
"You what?" Brooke hisses as I take a seat in the chair across from her and Barbara.
"What? It's not a big deal."
She looks to Barb, then me again. "Not a big deal? You left another bitch, alone, with your man. Are you fucking crazy, Tabitha?"
I roll my eyes. "She's his best friend. That's all."
She scoffs. "Maybe to him, but not to her. Based off what you just told us, that jealous bitch wants what's yours."
"Brooke's right, Tabitha. That Jessica bitch wants Jeremiah, and it doesn't sound like she cares about him being with you," Barb says from her position on the end of the couch.
"Look, I understand where you guys are coming from, and I hear what you're saying, but I'm not worried about Jessica or her little crush on Jer." I take a swallow of the red wine Brooke brought with her. "I know that we only made it official today, but I have trust in our relationship and I trust Jer. He doesn't look at her like that, not even close."
"Have they slept together?" Barb asks.
I froze.
Now, that was a question I didn't know the answer to. "I don't know."
"I think you should ask him," Brooke says, pulling her Hello Kitty blanket up to her shoulders. "I also think you should find out all you can about Jessica Bitch."
"Brooke!" I can't help but laugh.
"What?"
"That is not her name and you know it."
She shrugs. "It is today."
"In my best Kevin Hart voice, she gon' learn today," Barb says.
I clutch my stomach and lean forward slightly to help ease the pain of laughing so damn hard. I haven't laughed this hard in quite a while. "I can't with you two." I shake my head while wiping at my fallen tears of laughter. "I swear the two of you need psychological help."
Brooke fights to get her breathing under control while Barb fights to stop laughing. "You… still… love… us," Barb chokes out in between laughs.
"That's now up for debate."
After another minute or two, they'd finally calmed down enough to speak clearly. "Look, sweetie, all we are saying is to keep an eye on that Demi Moore wannabe," Brooke says, her face serious. "I haven't even met the bitch and I don't trust her. I just don't want you to get hurt."
I nod.
"I know. I hear you, I do."
"Now, if you want, we can go pick that bitch up right now and have her ass walking down Maxwell Road with no memory of the last five years of her life," Barb suggests.
I raise a curious brow. "Not that I'm saying yes, but… how would you pull that off?"
"Well, we go pick her up, throw her in the back of a van, one we'll rent, of course, then go drifting in an abandoned parking lot," she says with a smi
le. "Since she won't have anything to hold her down, she'll be thrown around like a rag doll and I'm sure that will cause a lot of brain damage."
I shake my head and take a long drink from my glass. "We are not kidnapping or beating up Jessica. I will deal with her in my own way. A way that doesn't involve any of us going to prison for attempted murder."
Barb shrugs. "Suit yourself." She takes a long drawl of her wine, then lets out a loud burp.
"Ol’ nasty ass!" Brooke scolds.
"It happens," Barb says.
I lean back in the chair and watch two of the most important people in my life bicker back and forth. Brooke and Barb have been in my life for as long as I can remember. I met Barb in elementary school, and Brooke, my first year in middle school and the three of us have been tight ever since. Barb isn't what most people expect when they first meet her. She's a brown skin, thick little woman who stands at 5’5”, has shoulder length chestnut brown hair, full, almost pouty lips, a medium sized nose and deep brown eyes framed with glasses. Now, she may be little, but she has a fire in her the size of a dragon. Most people judge her based off her size and assume she's this sweet little woman with a heart of gold. They couldn't be more wrong. The woman barely has a filter, she's stubborn and hard-headed as hell and she has a temper that could scare the devil himself into submission. Brooke, on the other hand, is different, not by much, but still. She has chestnut brown skin, hazel eyes, a small nose, full lips and a curvy 5’6” frame. Unlike Barbara, she has a filter, she's sweet, kind and has a heart, but only with those who she feels deserve it. Brooke is also like me in a way: she treats those around her the way they treat her. Which means if you’re kind to her, then she's kind to you, and if you're a bitch to her, then she's a bitch to you. Tit-for-tat basically. You make her angry, you're going to have hell to pay with that firecracker. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Without these two beautiful, and crazy, women in front of me, I honestly don't know if I would be as sane as I am today, or even be here. They, along with my wonderful parents, have helped me through some of the toughest times in my life and vice versa. We've always had each other’s back, no matter what, and it will forever remain that way. Nothing and no one will ever come in between my girls and me. And if anyone ever dares try to come in between us, they'd suffer the wrath of three strong black women.
"What are you over there smiling about?" Brooke asks.
I smile at her. "I was just thinking about how if anyone tried to come in between us, they'd have to suffer the wrath of three strong black women."
"Damn straight!" Barb cheers, thrusting her glass into the air. "I dare a bitch, or nigga, to try it."
Brooke nods in agreement and thrusts her glass into the air too. "To three of the strongest, most beautiful and educated black women in the world."
I raise my glass. "I'll drink to that."
Present
Jeremiah
(10)
"How in the fuck do you let a one hundred and forty-five pound woman get away from you?" I was beyond apoplectic; I was foaming at the mouth. I'm honestly surprised I didn't have steam coming out of my ears with how bent out of shape I am.
"She had a knife. When Danny went back to check on her, she stabbed him and was able to get away," Sammy explains.
My gaze drifts towards Danny, who is slightly hunched over, cupping his abdomen, leaning against his car. "I don't need you dying on my wedding day. Get your ass to the hospital and get that looked at."
He nods. "Yes, boss."
I turn to Brody and nod my head in Danny's direction. "You drive. I don't want him passing out at the wheel." Without a word, he rushes after him. "Your ass better be back in time for the wedding to start."
"Mr. Keegan—" I held up my hand to stop Sammy from speaking any further.
"How in the hell did she get a knife past you?"
"I did a thorough pat down and found nothing. She was clean." He takes a step forward. "There's only one place for her to have hidden it without us finding it," he says, meeting my gaze.
Her bra.
"Resourceful bitch."
I rake my fingers through my hair and stare up at the church. In less than thirty minutes, I will be getting married to the love of my life. I'm supposed to be happy, ecstatic, and yet here I am, standing outside the church, light years away from being happy. How can I be happy when the woman who has been trying to kill the woman I love is nowhere to be found?
"Don't worry about it, Jer." Remy grips my shoulder and squeezes. "We'll make sure your wedding goes off without a hitch."
I shift my gaze to him and nod. "I sure as fuck hope so because if that bitch shows her face, not even God Himself will be able to stop me from choking her to death," I growl before pushing past him. "Come on. We need to do a walk through the entire church to make sure she's not lurking behind any doors or statues."
"All right. I'll check the basement and the rest of the guys will check the perimeter around the church," Remy calls after me.
"I want this entire damn block scanned. I don't want to take any chances. I don't want to give her any opening to hurt Tabitha or my family," I throw over my shoulder before entering the church.
"Jeremiah!" I look up to see Jason heading my way. The smile on his face drops into a frown at the sight of me. "What's wrong?" He stops directly in front of me.
"Jessica stabbed Danny and escaped." His eyes widen.
"Where is she now?"
I shrug and push passed him. "That's a good question, brother."
He falls into step beside me. "What are you doing now?"
"I'm having the guys scan the area."
It took my men and me fifteen minutes to scan the entire block and the church in search for Jessica and there was no sign of her. A part of me is relieved that we didn't find her because I won't have to worry about her trying to ruin Tabitha's day, but another part of me was on edge. I may not have to worry about her today, but what about later down the road? I don't want to have to look over my shoulder every time Tabitha and me and our family steps out of the fucking house. I won't do that to them.
"Hey, boss. We did another sweep around the block and around the church and there’s no sign of her," Sammy says, rushing towards Jason and me.
"Good. Has your brother made it back?"
He nods. "He just pulled up three minutes ago,"
"How is he?"
Sammy and Danny were identical twins. Standing at 6’3”, dark, shoulder length hair, dark eyes and heavily built body structures, it was no wonder people moved out of their way whenever they saw them coming. One hit from them and you might as well be ready for a long nap.
"He's fine. Doctors stitched him up and gave him some pain medication." He folds his arms across his chest. "Thanks for asking."
I nod. "No problem. Look, do you think he's up to swing by my in-laws to do a sweep of the area with you?" I look down the hall at Melissa and Jacob, who are sitting at the altar, reading one of the pamphlets. "I would go myself, but—"
He shakes his head and raises a hand. "Say no more, boss. We'll head that way now."
"Thanks, Sammy."
He nods, then turns and jogs down the opposite hall and out of a set of double doors.
"I have to ask." Jason moves to stand directly in front of me. He has this serious look in his eyes and I know what he's about to ask, but I let him ask anyway. "If you find her—"
"When I find her," I correct him.
He glares at me. "When you find her, what are you going to do to her?"
I don't hesitate to answer him because I've had that answer running through my mind every day since I found out she'd sent Tony Riels after Tabitha. "I'm going to put a bullet in her skull."
Past
Tabitha
(11)
I am awakened by a startling sound. I look around for the culprit and it's Barbara… snoring. Damn. I forgot that girl sounds like the sound metal makes when it's being crushed. Shaking my head, I notice tha
t the three of us had fallen asleep in the living room with me laying on the couch and them on the floor. Now, how did I end up on the couch and them on the floor wrapped in blankets and laying on top of my couch pillows? I have no idea.
"Damn you, Barb!" I hiss at the sound of her snoring getting louder.
Reaching behind me, I grab one of the thicker pillows and chuck it at her head. "Arrrg. What the fuck!" she snaps while slowly lifting her head and looking around.
"Yeah, my sentiment exactly," I growl at her.
She turns her head all the way around to look at me. No, scratch that, glare at me. Her eyes were red and the side of her face had a long white line going from the corner of her mouth all the way up to her ear.
"Either you had a great sleep, or you had a guy over while we were asleep." I laugh.
She gives me a sarcastic smile before flipping me off. "Bitch."
"Ugh. What the hell are you two bitching about?" Brooke grumbles from her place on the floor beside Barb.
"That bitch hit me in the head with one of the heavier pillows," Barb spit.
Brooke, after a moment, slowly turns her head to look at me. "Why did you throw a pillow at her?"
I stare at her incredulously. "Are you shitting me? You didn't hear that chainsaw she calls a nose in your dreams?" I point at a glaring Barb. "Her snoring startled me awake."
Brooke lets out a soft laugh and Barb doesn't like it. "You both can go to hell," she spits.
I roll my eyes and push to my feet. "We still love you." I move to step over them. "I'm going to put on coffee, then take a shower."
"Good. Then I can start breakfast," Brooke says as she slowly sits up.
Yeah, it's way past breakfast time, but I knew they were just as hungry as I was so…
"Yeah, and I can watch," Barb adds.
"Lazy ass," Brooke snarls.
Shaking my head, I make my way into my kitchen and quickly put on coffee. I stand in front of the coffee pot for a moment, waiting for the first drop to hit the glass pot, and once it does, I quickly rush up to my room. I love taking showers in the mornings; the hot water on my skin helps to relax the tension in my muscles from the day, or night, before. Quickly, I walk into my master bathroom, reach into the shower and turn it on full blast, just the way I like it. Before I start to undress, I set my apple red silk robe on the bed, then walk back into the now steamy bathroom. The moment I step into the shower, I let out an almost loud moan as the hot water hits my chest and runs down the length of my body. I then slowly turn around and my eyes drift close as the water hits my back. Suddenly, “Te Amo” by Rihanna drifts to the front of my mind and before you know it I'm singing:
